Fabric tensioning means



March 19, 1946. F. G. WEISBECKER ETAL FABRIC TENSIONING MEANS 7 Filed Aug; 6, 1943 v 1 .T. l l

2 Sheets-Sheet l v March 19, 1946. F. e. WElSBECKER ETAL FABRIC TENSIONING mums I Filed Aug. 6, 1943 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTORS:

6 W er .Jiz'liusnzlsbedjeg- ATI'OIRNEY.

Patented Mar. 19, 1946 FABRIC TENSIONING 'MEANS Frank G. Weisbecker, Glenside, and Julius Weisbecker, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Hosiery Patents Inc., Lansdale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 6, 1943, Serial No. 497,696

5 Claims.

This invention relates to fabric tensioning means for straight, or full-fashioned hosiery blank, knitting machines, and more particularly to supplemental means arranged to be cooperativeiy associated with the usual fabric tensioning, or take-off mechanism of the machine, to augment the tensioning of the edge sections of the fabric blanks during knitting, and especially during widening thereof.

' When producing so-called single unit fullfashioned hosiery blanks, and particularly when widening such blanks to form the heel sections thereof, it has been found that these sections are not properly, or sufficiently tensioned by the usual tensioning means of the knitting machine, and that this detrimentally affects the loop formation thereof. Various efforts have been made to overcome this diiiiculty, such as adjusting certain of the regular knitting machine mechanisms, or providing extra equipment for this purpose. However, none of these efforts have resulted in eliminating the problem in a practical and satisfactory manner.

One object of our invention is to provide a novel device for straight, .or full-fashioned knittin machines, which is arranged to be cooperatively associated with the usual knitting ma-- chine fabric tensioning, or take-ofhmechanism, and which is adapted to supplement, or augment. the action of the latter to an extent effecting perfect loop formation in the widened, or heel sections of the blanks produced on such machines.

Another object is to provide such a device having one or more movable elements arranged to cooperate with the side edge sections of the fabric in novel manner.

Another object is to provide such a device having self-adjustabletensioning means.

A further object is to provide such a device which can be quickly and easily brought into cooperative engagement with the fabric, and. released therefrom, without manipulating the said fabric.

Anadditional object is .to provide such a device which can be mounted on the knitting machine in such manner as 'not to injure the fabric, or interfere with the normal draw-off movement thereof, While the device is in operative, or inoperative relationship with the fabric.

vAnother object is to provide such a device which will exert a composite lateral tensioning action on the side edge sections of the fabric, crosswise and vertically relative to the fabric.

, A further object is to provide such a device in the form of a clamp-like'element constructed fromasingle piece of resilient material, or spring wire.

It is also an object to provide such a devicehaving novel structural and functional features :cf advantage over similar devices of the prior art.

With these and other object in view, which will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of ourhovel device, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the invention comprises the new elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in nooperative relationship as herein disclosed, and hereinafter claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of one embodiment of our invention, as it appears in cooperative association with a single-unit hosiery blank and certain Well-known parts of a standard full-fashioned knitting machine, on which such :blank is produced.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially as indicated by the arrows 2-2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is'a top plan view of the device of our invention shown in Fig. '1, substantially actual size.

Fig. 4 is a side elevatidnal view of the device shown in Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are front and rear elevational views, respectively, of the device shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. '7 is a front elevational view similar to Fig. 5, but of a modified form of construction.

The device of our invention is adapted for use on knitting machines, to effect lateral tensioning of the edge sections of the fabric during the knitting of certain areas thereof, and while the usual fabric take-off mechanism of the machine is tensioning the fabric in a longitudinal, or lengthwise direction, in accordance with the standard and well-known practice.

More particularly, in the art of manufacturing full-fashioned hosiery blanks of the so-called single unit type, the shaping of the article during knitting requires varying the width, i. e., first reducing the width as the areas of the blank are developed from the welt to the ankle portion, and then increasing the width to produce the heel portions. This change from a comparatively narrow ankle section width to a considerably wider heel section width, results in the formation of a knitted section at each side of the ankle section, to which no direct, or efiectivalongitudinal tension, or pull, is transmitted by the'usual take-up mechanism of the machine. 'In other words, a sufficient, or proper, amount of tension is applied to the central, but not to the edge sections of the fabric blank during such widening thereof. The result is a noticeable difference in the loop formations, or structures, between the central, or ankle fabric, and edge sections, or heel areas, of the fabric. The loop formation of the central section is uniform and substantially perfect, while that of the widened edge sections is sleazy, or otherwise imperfect.

By applying a certain amount of lateral tension at certain points along the edge sections of the fabric, during such widening of the hosiery blank, in conjunction with the usual longitudinal tension applied by the regular fabric take-off mechanism of the machine, the aforementioned difiiculty can be eliminated, and perfection of the loop formation simultaneously attained in both the central and widened side edge sections of the fabric.

The device of our invention accomplishes this result, and is constructed and arranged so that, at the proper time, it can be quickly and easily brought into cooperative association with the fabric blank, and released therefrom, without manipulating the fabric.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the device of our invention as it appears in cooperative association with a singleunit full-fashioned hosiery blank B and certain usual and well-known parts of the full-fashioned knitting machine on which the blank is produced, such as needles N, needle bar NB, sinker head SH, fabric take-up or tension roller R, welt rod straps S, which are connected to, and actuated by, the roller R, and have extending therebetween the welt rod T, which passes through the welt of the fabric blank B. Beneath the blank B is the usual knitting machine beam MB, commonly referred to,

as the front bed or front table of the machine. The blank B is shown as it is being withdrawn from the needles N, during the knitting of the widened edge sections to form the heel portions HP.

The machine beam MB forms part of the stationary machine frame structure and extends x1 gitudinally across the top, adjacent the front of the entire machine. It consequently has the same relation to the knitting machine parts indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, in each knitting section of the machine, and constitutes a stationary machine member which conveniently serves as a means to which our novel device can be attached in similar manner in each knitting section.

Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawings illustrate one embodiment of our device per se. support or clamp 10, which is adapted to be attached to the beam MB (as shown in Figs. 1 and 2), and which includes two members or jaws H and [2, each having a bottom extension H and I2 adjustably united by an adjustment screw 13, which passes through an aperture 12 in extension I2 and has threaded engagement with a correspondingly threaded aperture l I in the extension I l Mounted on the support ID, are the means for engaging and laterally tensioning, the side edge sections of the fabric blank B. Such means can be provided in the form of separate parts. However, in the present instance, the means are shown as comprising a unitary structure in the form of a resilient clamp-like deviceshaped from a single piece of resilient material, or suitable spring wire, including two opposed vertical fabric edge section engagin elements l4 and I5 provided with top extensions M and horizontally extending resilient actuating members, or sections l6 and I7; and a vertically extending member, or bight por- This comprises, a

tion 20, forming a continuation of the sections [5 and I1. The member or bight portion 20 is constructed and arranged so that it can be vertically fixed in adjusted position by a securing screw l8 and Washer 19, in order that the entire resilient clamp-like device is in proper position on the support ill. The screw it has threaded engagement with a correspondingly threaded aperture l2 in the member [2, as indicated in Fig.4.

After our device has been secured to the knitting machine member MB, directly beneath the fabric blank B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the elements Hi and I5, and top extensions M and I5, are normally permitted to occupy an inactive position below the central portion of the fabric, as indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1, until the point is reached in the knitting of the blank B where the widening of the fabric begins, to effect the formation of the usual heel portions HP. At about this time, the knitter, or machine attendant, usually goes along the front of the machine to inspect, or check, the fabric for imperfections, or defects, at the areas where loops have been transferred to narrow the blank. In conjunction with this inspection of the blank B (or at any other appropriate time), the knitter, or machine attendant, can quickly and easily bring our device into cooperative association with the fabric blank B, by manipulating the elements i4 and 15, i. e., spreading them apart beyond the side edges of the blank B, slightly raising the same, and permitting them to fall in place against the latter so that they will occupy the active, or cooperative lateral tensioning position with respect to the fabric blank B, with extensions l4 and l5 engaging its top, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In other words,

our device is so constructed and arranged that it can be brought into cooperative association with the fabric blank B, without manipulating the fabric, and in conjunction with one of the usual fabric inspecting operations performed by the machine attendant.

It will be understood that the spreading of the elements I4 and I5, will develop a tensioning force in the resilient members, or spring wire sections it and i1, tending to move the elements l4 and 15 toward each other and the extensions 14 and l5 in a downward direction. Thus, the elements I4 and I5, and their extensions I4 and I5 function to apply the proper amount of composite lateral tension, or pressure, on certain, or opposed, contiguous top and side edge sections of the blank B, since the elements i4 and 15 are urged to move crosswise of the latter in a direction toward each other, and the extensions M and i5 downwardly or vertically of the blank B. As indicated, these movements are developed by the resilient action of the spring wire actuating members, or sections it and I1, which are tensioned to efiect such movements when bent outwardly and upwardly at the time the elements 14 and I5, and their extensions Id and I5 are moved from inactive to active position.

It will be understood that the resiliency of the actuating members l6 and I1, not only accomplishes automatic tensioning movement of elements I4 and I5, and their top extensions [4* and I5 but also provides for their automatic reverse, or yielding movement as the crosswisedimensions of the fabric blank B become greater, and the edge sections of the blank consequently exert a spreading action on the elements M and [5. However, this reverse, or yielding movement change the lateral tensioning action of the device, and this action therefore remains substantially constant throughout its active cooperation with the fabric. This resultant automatic tensioning and yielding action of the fabric engaging elements not only effects self-adjustment of the device relative to the fabric, but also enhances its use as a supplemental tensioning means for knitting machines, since it will accomplish the same result in conjunction with the production of fabrics havin difierent crosswise dimensions, or widened sections.

After the device has performed its supplemental tensioning function, as explained, it can be -quickly and easily released from cooperative association with the fabric B, by merely moving the elements l4 and I outwardly relative to the side edge sections of the latter, until the top exensions M and l5 clear the same, and then releasing said elements so that they will return to their inactive position adjacent to, or below the fabric, indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1. In the event that the continued lateral tensioning of the fabric by the device. after it has performed its indicated intended function, is desirable, or does not detrimentally affect the fabric during its completion, the device can be maintained in active association with the fabric until completed and the latter then simply withdrawn from between the elements l4 and I 5. Such procedure will naturally obviate the performance of the device releasing action.

In order to prevent the tips of extensions M and I5 from injuring the fabric B, when in contact with the latter, these t ps are provided with substantially spherical, or rounded, enlargements I 4 and IE or solder, or other suitable material. Substantially the same result is accomplished by forming circular portions I l and I5 at the tip ends of the extensions [4 and I5 as clearly shown in Fig. 7, which illustrates a modification of our device to this extent.

Of course, the device specifically shown and described, which attains the indicated results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed, and hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. A 'device of the character described comprising, a support arranged to be attached to a knitting machine member, an element associated with said support and arranged to be moved so as to develop a potential tensioning energy and to engage a side edge section of the fabric produced on said machine at its top and side, and means including a resilient member integrally united with said element for imparting a composite tensioning movement to said element in a lateral direction crosswise and vertically relative to the fabric.

2. A device of the character described comprising, a support arranged to be attached to a knitting machine member, and a plurality of elements associated with said support and arranged to be moved to develop a potential tensioning energy and to engage opposite contiguous top and side edge sections of the fabric produced on said machine, and means including a resilient member integrally united with each of said elements for imparting a composite tensioning movement to said elements in a direction toward each other crosswise and vertically relative to the fabric.

3. A device of the character described comprising, a support arranged to be attached to a knitting machine member, two movable elements on said support each arranged to engage one of the opposite side edge sections of the fabric at the top and side, and laterally swingable resilient means for moving said elements to simultaneously effect inward and downward tension on said fabric sections.

4. A device of the character described comprising, a support, arranged to be attached to a knitting machine member, and means on said support for laterally tensioning the fabric produced on said machine including a spring' wire member having a pair of opposed movable elements arranged to engage opposite side edge sections of said fabric, resilient sections for moving said elements toward each other, and a section arranged to permit adjustable positioning of said member on said support.

5. A device of the character described comprising, a support arranged to be attached to a knitting machine member, and means on said support for laterally tensioning the fabric produced on said machine including a spring wire member having a pair of opposed movable elements arranged to engage opposite contiguous top and side edge sections of said fabric, resilient sections for moving said elements horizontally and vertically relative to the fabric, and a section arranged to permit adjustable positioning of said member on said support.

FRANK G. WEISBECKER. JULIUS WEISBECKER. 

